Recycling was a really hard thing for me to wrap my head around for many years. I grew up, and still live in a really small town, and the story was that even if you recycled something it still got sent to the landfill. Years into my sustainability journey, I stopped thinking I shouldn’t recycle because it just ended up in the trash anyway. I started recycling because even if it did ultimately end up in the landfill, I had done my due diligence.
The more I recycled, the more I learned. Sometimes it’s the simple decisions that make the most impact. Metals (and glass) are valuable materials that can be recycled almost indefinitely without losing their properties or quality. By recycling metals we are helping to conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save energy. Recycling metal also helps to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and pollutes the environment.
Metals are used in a variety of applications, from construction and transportation to electronics and packaging. However, the extraction, processing, and transportation of metals can have significant environmental impacts, such as air and water pollution, habitat destruction, and energy consumption. Recycling metals can help to mitigate these impacts by reducing the need for new mining and refining activities, which often require large amounts of energy and water and generate significant amounts of waste and emissions.
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Understanding the Metal Recycling Industry
Recycling is way up there on the “save the environment” trope. In fact, it was one of the three “R’s” we learned in grade school…you know: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Twenty years later and zero-waste is summed up with many more Rs, but recycling is still an important way to reduce waste and conserve natural resources, especially when it comes to materials that are almost endlessly recyclable, like metals and glass.
When it comes to metals, recycling is particularly important because it can significantly reduce energy consumption in the extraction and manufacturing processes. Recycling metal involves collecting and processing scrap metal to create new metal products.
Think back to those TV shows and movies you would see as a kid, where someone would pick up soda cans from all over town for a nickel each. I’m thinking of Christmas Shoes (I know, Christmas is about to be full-blown “in-season” around here!!), where the son recycles aluminum cans to buy his mom the super special Christmas present he has planned.
The process of metal recycling begins with the collection of scrap metal. Once collected, the scrap metal is sorted to separate the different types of metal. After sorting, the scrap metal is processed to remove any contaminants and prepare it for recycling. And then, voila! Old metal can be melted down and used to create new metal products.
Let’s be clear though, not all metals are able to be recycled, though many are. Some metals, like gold and silver, are highly valuable and are often called precious metals. Precious metals are often recycled. Others metals, like lead and mercury, are toxic and require special handling in order to be recycled properly.
Types of Metals for Recycling
When it comes to recycling metals, there are a variety of different types that can be reused. Some of the most common metals that are recycled include steel, tin, iron, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, silver, brass, nickel, stainless steel, gold, chromium, cadmium, and magnesium–that’s basically all the metals I can think of off the top of my head (except maybe mercury).
Metals, overall, are a commonly recycled material compared to plastics and other recycled items. In fact, steel is thought to have the highest recycling rate of EVERYTHING that is recycled, with up to 90% of it being recycled.
There are ferrous metals that contain iron; this includes items like steel and iron, which can be found in everything from cars and household appliances to my new metal roof. One of the reasons we went with a metal roof before we installed our solar panels was the fact that it was made from 100% recycled American Steel and would be 100% recyclable at the end of it’s (hopefully) very long lifespan!
And then there are non-ferrous metals, which do not contain iron. Non-ferrous metals include aluminum (soda cans), copper (like the water piping in my house), and brass.
One of the easiest ways to pre-classify an unidentified metal is to use a magnet. If the metals stick to a magnet, they are likely ferrous, and if it does not attract the metal, it is likely non-ferrous.
Metal Recycling Process
Overall, the process utilized for recycling metals is a complex and multi-step process, but it starts with each of us. First in knowing what we can recycle, and then by actually doing the damn thing.
Collection and Sorting Metal Items
The first step in the recycling process is collection; this is where we all pitch in. In our recycling bins, we should gather all materials that are made of metals and separate them from other materials. It is important to organize this process in a way that ensures that all metals are properly collected and sorted. It also helps streamline dropping of your recycling when you don’t have to sort it as you remove it from your car…ask me how I know.
If you have a curbside recycling program, make sure you clean and sort your recycling to allow for maximum recyclability.
Collection can happen on a larger scale too, it’s not just household collection and sorting. Collection can also happen on a larger scale, such as in commercial and industrial settings. Businesses and industries often have dedicated waste management systems or engage with waste management companies to collect and sort their waste materials.
For example, in commercial settings, collection systems may include separate bins for recyclables like paper, plastic, glass, and metal. These materials are then collected by waste management companies who sort them and deliver them to recycling facilities.
Processing Different Kinds of Metal
Once the metals have been collected, it’s off to the recycling facility to be processed. This transportation can come from many different places, depending on how the items are being recycled. In our small town, we have to drop off our recycling locally. In order to make our recycling transportation the most energy efficient, we bundle it with walking the fur babies or grocery shopping, giving our trip a dual purpose for the same amount of gas mileage.
The next step is sorting the different types of metals from each other, usually with an industrial sized magnet (at least to start the process). After the various metals have been sorted, the metal is then shredded finely. This involves cutting the metals into smaller pieces, making it easier to melt the metal materials down and process them further.
Once the metals have been shredded, the metals are melted. This is the part I always think of when recycling metal; and blacksmiths forging swords in all of my fantasy novels.
The metals are heated to a high temperature until they become molten. This makes it possible to separate impurities (like small bits of plastic) from the metals. Melting the shredded metals is a crucial step in the recycling process. The metal pieces are typically placed in a large furnace or smelting vessel where heat is applied until the metals reach their melting points. The temperature required for melting varies depending on the type of metal being recycled.
Melting is an energy-intensive step in metal recycling that requires careful temperature control and safety measures. However, it is a crucial stage that allows for the purification and transformation of shredded metals into valuable raw materials for manufacturing new products.
Purification
As the metals become molten, any impurities present, such as dirt, coatings, or other non-metallic materials (like plastic), tend to rise to the surface or form a separate layer. This separation occurs because impurities generally have lower melting points than the metals being recycled. Purification involves removing any of these impurities from the molten metal.
To further enhance the purification process, fluxes or chemical additives may be used. Fluxes help to facilitate the separation of impurities by causing them to react or form slag, a by-product that can be easily removed from the molten metal. Different fluxes are employed based on the specific metal being melted.
Removing the impurities ensures that the final product is of high quality and can be used in a variety of applications and products. Another method of purification is electrolysis, which involves using an electric current to separate the metals from each other. This is an important step for recycling metals that are difficult to separate using other methods.
Once the impurities have been separated, the molten metal can be poured into molds or cast into desired shapes, depending on its intended use, and left to solidify as its final intended product.
I’m thinking a beautiful sword would be nice. I mean, I’m a pacifist to the core so I’d never use one, but when talking about melting and casting metals, I can’t stop thinking about being in an old-world story and having a necessary one-of-a kind sword made just for my adventure to save the world.
Different Types of Scrap Metal Recycling
Since metal can be recycled easily (compared to mining and manufacturing virgin metal), I believe that we can all play a role in reducing waste. If you’re looking to recycle, here are several recyclable metals that you probably come across in your life.
- Batteries
- Cars and Ships
- Appliances and Electronics
- Wires and Pipe
- Utensils
- Aluminum Cans and Foil
- Steel Cans
- Computers and Catalytic Converters
Wow, it seems like there is metal in everything these days and recycling different items can be super easy.
Final Thoughts on Recycling Metals
Recycling metals is a vital step towards preserving our planet’s resources and reducing the impact of our actions on the environment. Every time we recycle a metal, we save energy and reduce the need for mining new ores. This not only reduces air and water pollution caused by mining activities but also saves valuable land space. By recycling metals, we can contribute to a more sustainable future. It is truly amazing to think that a simple act of recycling a metal can have such a profound impact on our world. So, let’s make a conscious effort to recycle metals whenever possible. Let’s take responsibility for our actions and make a positive change. Together, we can create a cleaner and greener planet for ourselves and future generations. Remember, even the smallest effort counts. Can you find some metal to recycle today? Maybe a soda can, or some foil?
